Iowa lands transfer QB Mark Gronowski

The Hawkeye offense received a very significant addition on Tuesday when Mark Gronowski announced that he would be transferring to the University of Iowa.

The 6-foot-3 signal caller wrapped up his playing career at South Dakota State last month and had been weighing entering the NFL Draft, along with several opportunities at the FBS level of college football.

Gronowski had a recorded setting career for the Jackrabbits. He threw for 10,330 yards and rushed for 1,767 yards in his career. He led South Dakota State to a pair of national titles and was named the Walter Payton Award winner in 2023 and he is a finalist for the award once again this year. That award goes annually to the top player at the FCS level of college football. He also led South Dakota State to 49 wins in his career, which is the tied for the all-time FCS record.

If you are curious as to how Gronowski did against FBS opponents, this past season he was 20-36 for 264 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in a loss to Oklahoma State. Of course, in 2022, Gronowski started against Iowa and lost 7-3. He completed 10-26 passes for 87 yards in that game.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR IOWA?

It’s not been a secret that for the last few years the Hawkeyes have been seeking an upgrade at the quarterback position.

They thought they found one two years ago when they landed Cade McNamara in the transfer portal. But, injuries seemed to define his two years at Iowa and never lived up to the hopes that surrounded his arrival.

Last year after seeking more help and competition in the transfer portal, Iowa was able to land Brendan Sullivan in the spring after he left Northwestern. Last month the Hawkeyes picked up a transfer from Auburn in Hank Brown, who was able to practice with the team during the final portion of bowl prep.

Now with Gronowski in the fold, does the former Illinois prep standout end up moving into the starting role out of the gate?

If we know anything about Kirk Ferentz it is that Gronowski will have to earn the starting job. I would suspect that he will be listed as the backup or slash starter with Brendan Sullivan this spring. From there it will be about performance in the spring running Tim Lester’s offense. Obviously Sullivan will have the edge early on because he’s had more time running the offense, but Iowa is not bringing in Gronowski to sit. He will end up winning the starting job and things will progress from there.

IMPACT ON THE QUARTERBACK ROOM?

For every addition in the quarterback room there is usually some sort of reaction. Remember a couple of years ago when McNamara arrived, Alex Padilla hit the portal shortly after that because he saw the writing on the wall.

This addition will not impact Hank Brown, who just transferred in, or Jimmy Sullivan, who is a true freshman just arriving on campus. I don’t know that it will impact Jackson Stratton, who is a walk-on that won two starts to end the regular season this year.

But, for the second year in a row, an addition at quarterback in the spring will potentially impact Brendan Sullivan. Last year, Sullivan competed for the starting job at Northwestern in the spring and when it was apparent that they were moving in a different direction as far as a starter, he entered the transfer portal in the spring. Eventually he landed at Iowa and played in ten games, starting three of them, including the bowl game.

During the bowl prep, Sullivan said the Iowa coaches, led by offensive coordinator Tim Lester, have been very transparent with him about what they were doing in the transfer portal. But, even when the coaches are transparent, there is certainly a chance that Sullivan sees what’s ahead after spring ball and if he’s firmly in the backup spot, he could enter the transfer portal once again this spring.

COMMITTED!! #GoHawkeyes #LFG pic.twitter.com/HJdHHKPHkN

— Mark Gronowski (@mgronowski11) January 7, 2025